National Republican., 1887-01-08
AN INTERVIEW IN THE WATER.
How n Woman Reporter Interviewed
John Quincy Adams.

John Quincy Adams.
Iseaton Douoho in Brooklyn Magazine.1
As boy, being fond OF bathing in the
Potomac, / freqently resorted thither at
early hours Of summer mornings. The
favorite point for such enjoyment was at
"the sycamores," so called because group
OF those trees stood on certain part of
the shore. The location was In the imma-
diate vicinity OF the present Washington
monument. There | had sometimes the
honor OF attempting TO rival the natatory
skill OF John Quincy Adams
1t was his custom 10 seek the refreshment
OF the River OF Swans-Pow-tow- -mack-at
the dewy hours Of 4 or 8 a. m. My young
companions and | encircled him as min
nows might swim about whale, but with
no fear, for among children he was as q
child
strange Incident occurred there one
day. Mrs. Anne Royal, stout, aged, and
eccentric widow Of revolutionary soldier,
had come to Washington some time before
and undertaken the publ cation OF a weekly
paper entitled the Huntress, In size little
beyond sheet OF foolscap, blurred print,
and more typographical errors than lines.
Biographical accounts Of gentlemen of the
Cabinet aud OF Congress were its main
features, with notices, too, Of distinguished
ladies' OF the metropolis. II the elite fur
nished her, on her call, with proper data
and proper pay, their lives were made
glorious In the next number Of the unique
Journal, and they were also presented as
angels, either masculine or feminine; but II
her visit, as did happen now and then, met
with refusal, the imaginative editor would In
vent wonderful circumstances aud attribute
them to such personages. These, IN pub
lication, startled, and even terrified the
subjects thereof and all their society friends.
SO II became necessary to buy off the
vengeful madam, and to obtain from her
pleasant report. Cases OF fancy were often
more profitable to the Royal treasury than
those which were authentic. SO severe and
denunciatory was the editorial tone OF this
Saturday visitor that II soon created dread
In all quarters, and few were brave enough
TO provoke her wrath by declining the ap-
pllcation OF the proprietor. The demand
granted, the consequent laudation proved
scarcely more acceptable. being extrava
giant to absurdity, aud read with general
laughter.
No paper Of the period In Washington,
not even the stately and venerable National
intetfigencer, could compare In extent OF
local subscription with the list Of the Hunt
ress.
The active and resolute madam would
have 1t, and made 1t so, by going from house
to house, Office to Office, stores, departments
OF the government, In word everyw where.
The enterprlsing widow had long sought
an opportunity to pay her respects to the
Hon. John Quincy, but somehow--perhaps
John Quincy knew--fate failed to favor her.
She CHANGED to learn the early summer
morning practice OF his late excellency, and
the very next day repaired to the river and
the sycamores. There he was serenely dis
porting. She looked on with self. congratu-
latton. The swimmer approached the shore
at last, nearer and nearer. till he observed
her ladyship In waiting, then, the stream
admitting, stood, head and neck exposed
above the surface.
Thus situated, prisoner, she addressed
him, introduced herself, held sufficient talk
to furnish subject for fine article In the
following HttntresS, which accomplished,
she retired, AMI once more all was "quiet
on the Potomac"